'Blue and White' in Nineteenth-Century Britain and Beyond

For over a century Britain was the leading manufacturer of blue-and-white transfer-printed ceramics, a distinctly British product which became a common feature of many homes in Britain and across the globe. In this lecture, Florence Tyler, Curator of 19th-century Ceramics and Glass at the Victoria and Albert Museum, explores the development and rise of this popular tableware, and why the colour combination of blue and white on ceramics has enjoyed such remarkable and enduring appeal.

While the story of ceramics is a global one, Britain has played a leading role in the last three centuries, a period in which British invention has shaped developments and brought constant renewal to the industry. Ceramics in Britain, 1750 to Now, delivered by experts in the field, will explore five key influential developments in the history of British ceramics since the mid-eighteenth century, examining the multiple ways in which innovators, entrepreneurs, and artists have reinvigorated the field.

You can find this lecture on our Event Recordings page.